Mirabilite

Mirabilite
General
Category	Sulfate minerals
Chemical formula	Na2SO4·10H2O
Strunz classification	07.CD.10
Identification
Molar mass	322.2
Color	Colorless, white, yellowish white, greenish white
Crystal habit	Granular or well-formed coarse sized crystals
Crystal system	Monoclinic-prismatic 2/m, Space group P21/a
Twinning	Interpenetration twinning on {001}; also on {100}
Cleavage	{100} perfect, {001} poor, {010} poor
Fracture	Conchoidal
Mohs scale hardness	1.5–2
Luster	Vitreous
Streak	White
Diaphaneity	Transparent to translucent to opaque
Specific gravity	1.49
Optical properties	Biaxial (–), 2V=75.93°
Refractive index	nα = 1.396, nβ = 1.4103, nγ = 1.419
Birefringence	δ = 0.023
Pleochroism	none
Other characteristics	Not radioactive, non-fluorescent
References	[1][2]

Mirabilite, also known as Glauber's salt, is a hydrous sodium sulfate mineral with the chemical formula Na₂SO₄·10H₂O. It is a vitreous, colorless to white monoclinic mineral which forms as an evaporite from sodium sulfate bearing brines. It is found around saline springs and along saline playa lakes. Associated minerals include gypsum, halite, thenardite, trona, glauberite, and epsomite.

Mirabilite is unstable and quickly dehydrates in dry air, the prismatic crystals turning into a white powder, thenardite (Na₂SO₄). In turn, thenardite can also absorb water and converts to mirabilite.

Mirabilite is used as a purgative in the Traditional Chinese medicine; in Mandarin it is called máng xiāo. Its name is based on the phrase "Sal mirabilis" (Latin for "wonderful salt") used by Johann Rudolph Glauber when he inadvertently synthesized mirabilite.^[2][3]

References

1. ^ Mirabilite at Webmineral
2. ^ ^{a b} Mirabilite at Mindat
3. ^ Hill, James C. (1979). "Johann Glauber's discovery of sodium sulfate - Sal Mirabile Glauberi". Journal of Chemical Education 56 (9): 593. doi:10.1021/ed056p593. 

External links

• Maricopa.edu
• American Mineralogist (1917)
• "Mirabilite as a tracer of past evolution of the Aral Sea"

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mirabilite or Thenardite

This article about a specific sulfate mineral is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Sodium minerals Sulfate minerals Sulfate mineral stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР Lake McKerrow ISO 7812 Look at other dictionaries: MIRABILITE — Le premier nom de la mirabilite fut celui de sal mirabile Glauberi ou sel admirable de Glauber, qui devint ultérieurement et de façon plus concise «sel de Glauber». Sulfate hydraté naturel de sodium de formule: Na2S4, 10 H2O, la mirabilite… …   Encyclopédie Universelle Mirabilite — Mi*rab i*lite, n. (Min.) Native sodium sulphate; Glauber s salt. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English mirabilite — mirabilitas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Mineralas. formulė Na₂[SO₄]·10H₂O atitikmenys: angl. mirabilite rus. мирабилит …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas mirabilite — mə̇ˈrabəˌlīt noun ( s) Etymology: German mirabilit, from New Latin mirabile (in sal mirabile Glauber s salt, literally, wonderful salt) (from Latin, neuter of mirabilis wonderful) + German it ite : a mineral Na2SO4 …   Useful english dictionary Mirabilite Pond — (78°11′S 163°56′E / 78.183°S 163.933°E / 78.183; 163.933) is an alkali pond at a high elevation in the southern part of Antarctica s Hidden Valley, west of …   Wikipedia mirabilite — /mi rab euh luyt /, n. Mineral. a decahydrate form of sodium sulfate, Na2SO4·10H2O. Cf. Glauber s salt. [1850 55; < L (sal) mirabil(is) wonderful (salt) + ITE1] * * * ▪ mineral       a widespread sulfate mineral, hydrated sodium sulfate… …   Universalium mirabilite — noun A saline evaporite, consisting of sodium sulphate, with the chemical formula NaSO·10HO. Syn: Glaubers salt …   Wiktionary mirabilite —    The natural white mineral form of hydrated sodium sulfate, Na2SO4●10H2O [9], which may grow as cave flowers or in various other forms similar to those of gypsum …   Lexicon of Cave and Karst Terminology mirabilite — mi·ra·bi·lì·te s.f. TS mineral. raro minerale monoclino costituito da solfato di sodio idrato, che si rinviene nei giacimenti salini {{line}} {{/line}} DATA: 1934. ETIMO: der. della loc. lat. mod. (sal) mirabile (sale) meraviglioso con 2 ite …   Dizionario italiano mirabilite — pl.f. mirabiliti …   Dizionario dei sinonimi e contrari 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”